Upon European arrival to the Samoan islands in the late 18th century, there was no dominant political structure the ruled over the islands to govern the people. When European tensions peaked over a rivalry for Pacific Island in 1900, Germany annexed the western portion of the island to give themselves a foothold in the Pacific. This however did not last long, as in 1914 the League of Nations mandated that New Zeland inherit this land under the title of Western Samoa. By 1962, Western Somoa became the first independent Pacific Island nation, and became a member of the British Commonwealth in 1970 and part of the United Nations in 1976. All this European influence and changes in governing methods has created a unique form of government on the island. Samoa’s Constitution is a hybrid of European practices and that of fa’a Samoa, or Samoan custom. The fa’a Samoa is essentially an elaborate system of chiefly titles, known as the matai system. Under this system, the two individuals who held the highest titles known as the tama-a-‘aiga became joint heads of state when Samoa became independent. Only one of the tama-a-‘aiga still live however, Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, who has held the sole title of head of state since 1963. What will happen when his time for succession comes remains unknown. The Fono a Faipule is the legislative assembly on the island of Samoa. This assembly handles all laws and their enactment. Prior to 1991, only those who held a matai title were allowed to vote to elect members of the Fono, which excluded many young men and women could not vote. In 1991 however, the law was changed and anyone 21 years of age or older could vote, but only members of the matai could run for office. The fact that only matai can run for office in the Fono remains a topic of debate on the island. This is another example of how the Samoa government combines European tradition (voting age rather than qualification) and Samoa tradition (importance of the matai) in a successful way. Those in the Fonoserve five-year terms, and there are a total of 12 members in the cabinet. Two of the 12 members are selected by non-Samoans of European or mixed decent on a separate electoral roll. In the late 1970s, political parties first began to form on the island, as the legitimacy of the matai electoral voting system became a strong topic of controversy. The dominant political party on the island is the HRPP, or the Human Rights Protection Party, which has held power for six straight terms. In the 1978 elections, Samoa witnessed its first transmission of power to the HRPP, which went smoothly. The HRPP’s major opposition is the Samoa National Democratic Party, with the Samoa Labour Party and other smaller organizations taking a back seat as well. The HRPP’s dominance in the political arena has not been maintained without violence however. In July of 1999, Luagalau Levaula Saumeulu Kamu, the Somoan Minister of Public Workds, was assassinated at a political function hosted by the HRPP. A Somoan legislator and two other men belonging to a small political party was charged with the murder.
In the most recent parliamentary elections that were held in March 2006, the HRPP won 32 of the 49 seats. With the addition of seven other independents joining the HRPP, the party’s majority stands at 39 of the 49 seats.
Political Organization
Upon European arrival to the Samoan islands in the late 18th century, there was no dominant political structure the ruled over the islands to govern the people. When European tensions peaked over a rivalry for Pacific Island in 1900, Germany annexed the western portion of the island to give themselves a foothold in the Pacific. This however did not last long, as in 1914 the League of Nations mandated that New Zeland inherit this land under the title of Western Samoa. By 1962, Western Somoa became the first independent Pacific Island nation, and became a member of the British Commonwealth in 1970 and part of the United Nations in 1976.
All this European influence and changes in governing methods has created a unique form of government on the island. Samoa’s Constitution is a hybrid of European practices and that of fa’a Samoa, or Samoan custom. The fa’a Samoa is essentially an elaborate system of chiefly titles, known as the matai system. Under this system, the two individuals who held the highest titles known as the tama-a-‘aiga became joint heads of state when Samoa became independent. Only one of the tama-a-‘aiga still live however, Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, who has held the sole title of head of state since 1963. What will happen when his time for succession comes remains unknown.
The Fono a Faipule is the legislative assembly on the island of Samoa. This assembly handles all laws and their enactment. Prior to 1991, only those who held a matai title were allowed to vote to elect members of the Fono, which excluded many young men and women could not vote. In 1991 however, the law was changed and anyone 21 years of age or older could vote, but only members of the matai could run for office. The fact that only matai can run for office in the Fono remains a topic of debate on the island. This is another example of how the Samoa government combines European tradition (voting age rather than qualification) and Samoa tradition (importance of the matai) in a successful way. Those in the Fono serve five-year terms, and there are a total of 12 members in the cabinet. Two of the 12 members are selected by non-Samoans of European or mixed decent on a separate electoral roll.
In the late 1970s, political parties first began to form on the island, as the legitimacy of the matai electoral voting system became a strong topic of controversy. The dominant political party on the island is the HRPP, or the Human Rights Protection Party, which has held power for six straight terms. In the 1978 elections, Samoa witnessed its first transmission of power to the HRPP, which went smoothly. The HRPP’s major opposition is the Samoa National Democratic Party, with the Samoa Labour Party and other smaller organizations taking a back seat as well.
The HRPP’s dominance in the political arena has not been maintained without violence however. In July of 1999, Luagalau Levaula Saumeulu Kamu, the Somoan Minister of Public Workds, was assassinated at a political function hosted by the HRPP. A Somoan legislator and two other men belonging to a small political party was charged with the murder.